Worst President of the 20th Century

Those who voted for Reagan (if they thought it through) probably feel that the Soviets crumbled on their own and that Reagan himself didn't win the Cold War, plus he liked to spend, spend, spend, plus he was (at best) oblivious to stuff happening under his watch (Iran-Contra). Johnson did some good stuff, but dragged out Vietnam because "we couldn't afford to lose" which justifies all the votes he got, as long as it was because of that. Some of the comments of Carter basically being batshit or Anti-American are ridiculous. Yeah, apparently it's now un-American to call out Dubya and the current government for being crappy at foreign policy and alienating other countries after squandering the goodwill we had post-9/11. Carter's term had some pretty good foreign policy breakthroughs, including the promotion of human rights (normalizing relations with China isn't a negative; he attempted to use it as a gateway toward improving human rights [note: attempted]). Stagflation or not, I just feel it's stupid to vote him the worst in the 20th century where there have been worse.

It's also pretty stupid to vote Coolidge or HW Bush as the worst as well. Some of you either aren't thinking anything through or don't know anything about these other presidents.

Most of the other major vote-getters at least have some good things to at least notch something in the plus column. So does Harding, but he was by far the most inept and unqualified, by his own admission. By that reasoning, Harding's the worst for me. He was oblivious to corruption under his watch (Teapot Dome), and the Fordney-McCumber Tariff sewed some of the seeds of the Great Depression, With that said, I'm not gonna merely hone in on the worst traits a president had when compared to the legit achievements they were responsible for. Cheating on his wife and fucking up the English language long before Dubya made anyone laugh are bad traits, but didn't substantially affect his presidency AFAIK.

I'm really surprised Hoover didn't pick up more votes.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Gechmir

Liontamer --
Until Carter, there was an understood respect amid former presidents. After you've served your time in office, don't go out mocking the current president. They typically understand the stresses, the multitude of decisions required, and kinda go "well it probably wouldn't look too great under my watch, either". Carter broke that law by rather fervently undergoing a Monday morning Quarterback mentality. I don't despise him for critiquing Bush Jr, but for breaking that silent law. Now you'll probably see it as commonplace for a former president to be bitching about things.

It does bad things for imagery, particularly abroad. It's one thing for the voters to not like the performance, but if you've got one of the former figure heads mocking the government, then it gets serious. At least, that's my stance on the matter. Anti-American? No. But it's very damaging. The dumbass needs to shut his mouth and consider the impact he's having on the country's image.

No. Carter called out W for fucking up the country's image. That's what needs to be kept in perspective. Carter himself complaining doesn't tarnish the country's image. It hasn't been "bitching" and there's nothing wrong with viable criticisms of the Bush Administration. If anything, he's showing more respect to the office by not keeping mum. Besides all that, it's been done before, by TR calling out Taft. By your reasoning, Teddy Roosevelt should be voted the worst. There is no code of silence. This is politics.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by The Wise Vivi

Gerald Ford. Was Vice President and got the head position because of Nixon's resignation. His presidential pardon for Nixon wasn't the greatest idea either.

A very glib and ignorant post. Not being elected wouldn't make Ford, or any man under the same circumstances, the worst.

Ford pardoning Nixon saved the nation from years of dealing with legal bullshit that would simply have kept eroding the nation's morale. Ford took a very big hit for his own character and reputation, allowing the country to move forward in the process. He could have handled the pardon in a better way so as to not make it look like some sort of political collusion, but ultimately he made a very ballsy choice: short-term harm for long-term health.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.